LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Aly Cappaert had a big day for the Iowa State softball team as the sophomore broke ISU’s school record for longest hit streak and hit a seventh-inning two-run home run to lead the Cyclones over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 7-5 Sunday morning at the NMSU Softball Complex.

The win improved Iowa State to 8-1 on the season. It was the fourth time in school history the Cyclones have posted eight wins in their first nine games. The Islanders are now 2-7 on the season.

Cappaert’s School RecordAny questions as to whether Cappaert would feel the pressure of trying to take down a school record were put away quickly in her first at bat in the top of the second. Cappaert took the fifth pitch of her at bat against Liz Carter and fired a line drive to left field for a base hit, marking the 16th-straight game dating back to last season the sophomore has recorded a hit.

Cappaert took down the previous record of 15 games held by two of the best in Iowa State history, Erin Woods in 1999 and Erica Miller in 2012.

Story of the GameThe Islanders took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third, but the Iowa State offense got to work in the top of the fourth. Rachel Hartman posted a single and Lexi Slater walked on four pitches to set the stage for Jorden Spendlove.

The junior first baseman posted a two-RBI double in the left-center field gap. Hartman scored and Slater dove into home safely to make it 2-1 Cyclones. Iowa State added a third when Sara Rice singled to center and Spendlove ran on home.

With the game 4-2 for the Cyclones heading into the top of the sixth, Lexi Slater added a big insurance run on a home run to left-center that went off the glove of TAMU-CC’s centerfielder to make it 5-2 Iowa State. That proved to be crucial as the Islanders tied the game in the sixth when Valerie Perez hit a three-run homer to tie the game.

Sara Davison got on in the seventh with a walk to set the stage for Cappaert’s next big moment. The sophomore got ahead in the count at 3-0. She got the green light and took it ashs he took Liz Carter’s pitch out deep to right field for her third home run of the weekend to put Iowa State ahead 7-5. The Islanders were able to get a pair of runners on, but the Cyclones were able to lock down and secure the victory.

Player of the GameKatie Johnson. Sometimes, sports is about how one bounces back from adversity and can lead to showing character come out in players. For Katie Johnson on Sunday, she had a big challenge to bounce back after Perez's three-run homer in the sixth tied it up. Having thrown all but six innings all weekend, Johnson continued to add onto her pitch count and persevere through the game.

Johnson got big outs to get ISU out of tough jams that game from all different angles. The Islanders poted 16 hits on the day, but only scored five runs as Johnson forced TAMU-CC to strand 13 baserunners.

On DeckIowa State will take part in the Marriott Bronco Classic in Santa Clara, Calif. The Cyclones will start the tournament Friday with a 5 p.m. Central Time matchup against hosts Santa Clara.